Man arrested after being found with loaded gun at Newark Airport

NEWARK (WABC) -- Police say a New Jersey man was arrested for bringing a loaded gun to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday, after Transportation Security Administration officers detected the weapon in his carry-on bag.

TSA officers detected the .25 caliber handgun, which was loaded with six rounds, as the man was passing through the Newark Airport checkpoint. The TSA officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray machine detected the handgun in a zippered case inside the man's knapsack as it passed along the conveyor belt.

Officers immediately contacted the Port Authority Police Department, which responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the gun and arrested the man, a resident of Lanoka Harbor, on a state weapons charge. The man was ticketed to fly to Hong Kong. There was no impact to airport operations.

As a reminder, weapons -- including firearms, firearm parts and ammunition -- are not permitted in carry-on bags. Travelers who bring firearms to the checkpoint are subject to criminal charges from law enforcement and civil penalties from TSA of up to $11,000.

Passengers are responsible for the contents of bags they bring to the security checkpoint, and TSA's advice to passengers is to look through bags thoroughly before coming to the airport to make sure there are no illegal or prohibited items.

Travelers should familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.